 Most viewed - Ichikawa 市川市 |
Manhole in Funabashi, Chiba125 views
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Manhole in Ichikawa, Chiba122 views
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85 views
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Scale model of the Three-Story Pagoda at Saimyoji temple in Shiga Prefecture. Inside Nakayama Hokekyoji temple in Ichikawa, Chiba.84 views
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Scale model of the Three-Story Pagoda at Saimyoji temple in Shiga Prefecture. Inside Nakayama Hokekyoji temple in Ichikawa, Chiba.84 views
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Path to Soshido Hall, the main temple. 祖師堂62 views
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Nakayama Hokekyoji temple's Five-Story Pagoda, an Important Cultural Property 五重塔61 views
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Sanmon Gate 三門60 views
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Soshido Hall60 views
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The Nakayama Hina Matsuri Girl's Day Festival is held from mid-Feb. to March 3. The main venue is Nakayama Hokekyoji temple.59 views
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59 views
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Hokekyoji Shisokumon Gate59 views
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Temple gate ahead.58 views
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Incense burner58 views
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Ema tablet58 views
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日常上人57 views
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Courtyard has a rock garden.57 views
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Hokkedo Hall, Important Cultural Property 法華堂57 views
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刹堂57 views
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In front of JR Shimousa-Nakayama Station. Walk straight on the road between the buildings.56 views
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Heading to Nakayama Hokekyoji temple.56 views
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Keep walking straight.56 views
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Portrait studio56 views
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Sanmon Gate 三門56 views
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Short path to the main temple.56 views
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Soshido Hall on right.56 views
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56 views
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Left side of Soshido Hall56 views
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Soshido Hall56 views
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Sitting Daibutsu Buddha56 views
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Hon'in Hall 本院56 views
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Lobby of Hon'in Hall 本院56 views
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Yakudoshi ages56 views
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Corridor to the Soshido (not open to the public).56 views
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Seikyoden stores very important documents including those written by Nichiren. This building is to protect the documents from theft, natural disasters, etc. 聖教殿56 views
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Temple event schedule55 views
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Smaller temples along the way.55 views
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Short bridge55 views
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Nakayama Hokekyoji temple's Five-Story Pagoda 五重塔55 views
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Left side of Soshido Hall55 views
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Sitting Daibutsu Buddha near the pagoda.55 views
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Path embedded with small stones.55 views
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Hon'in Hall 本院55 views
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Hina dolls inside Hon'in Hall 本院55 views
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55 views
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Back of the Soshido55 views
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Hokkedo Hall, Important Cultural Property 法華堂55 views
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Back of the Soshido55 views
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刹堂55 views
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Temple cemetery55 views
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Way out55 views
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Hina dolls displayed inside JR Shimousa-Nakayama Station.54 views
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Crossing the Keisei Line.54 views
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Statue of Nichiren54 views
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Nakayama Hokekyo annual event schedule 54 views
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Soshido Hall54 views
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Sitting Daibutsu Buddha near the pagoda.54 views
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日常上人54 views
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Altar room at the end of the building. 鬼子母神堂54 views
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Gift shop54 views
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Indian-style Seikyoden building built in 1931. 聖教殿54 views
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JR Shimousa-Nakayama Station53 views
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Hina dolls on a storefront.53 views
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Keep walking straight.53 views
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Entering the Sanmon Gate.53 views
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Map of Nakayama Hokekyoji temple53 views
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Soshido Hall, Important Cultural Property53 views
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Soshido Hall53 views
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View from Soshido Hall53 views
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Sitting Daibutsu Buddha near the pagoda.53 views
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Sanmon Gate 三門52 views
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Statue of Nichiren52 views
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Soshido Hall is open to the public.52 views
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Soshido Hall52 views
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Soshido Hall52 views
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Hina dolls inside Hon'in Hall 本院52 views
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JR Shimousa-Nakayama Station on the Sobu Line is close to Nakayama Hokekyoji temple.51 views
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聖教殿51 views
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Manhole cover in Ichikawa, Chiba. Pine tree and river fish.35 views
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Manhole cover in Ichikawa, Chiba. Pine trees.34 views
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In Ichikawa, Chiba, Guhoji's 400-year-old weeping cherry blossom tree is named "Fushihime Sakura." 伏姫桜29 views
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Water & Greenery Corridor (Mizu-to-Midori-no-Kairo) is a semi-urban, hiking trail in the northwestern part of Ichikawa fronting the border with Tokyo along Edogawa River.19 viewsThis part of Ichikawa is dotted with patches, hills, and slithers of small forests, parks, and ponds. This "Corridor" links all this greenery and bodies of water to help protect and preserve the flora and fauna in a coordinated effort by local environmental groups.
This is a map of the trail. Download the official map here: https://www.city.ichikawa.lg.jp/gre01/1111000022.html
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Flowery site of Konodai Castle in Ichikawa, Chiba. No castle buildings. 国府台城跡14 views
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My coffee and pastries at Yamazaki Plaza Ichikawa in the city where Yamazaki-pan was founded. This capped my good day and hike in Ichikawa.14 views
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The corridor is 6 km and takes a few hours to walk it between Kita-Kokubun Station (photo) and Konodai Station both in Ichikawa.11 viewsThere are also side treks to other nearby sights. Enjoyable especially when the cherry blossoms are in bloom or during the autumn foliage.
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Next is Satomi Park, another large park with different areas. This part is undeveloped and quiet. 里見公園9 views
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Niomon Gate at the top of the steps, Guhoji's front gate. The two columns house a pair of Nio kings considered to be the protectors of the temple. 仁王門9 views
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After the small green belt, walk on the street to the Shell Mound. 8 views
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You will pass by the Ichikawa Municipal Museum of History. Free admission, but it was closed when we were there. Horinouchi Kaizuka Shell Mound Park has two museums. 市川歴史博物館8 views
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Junsai-ike Ryokuchi green belt park. じゅん菜池緑地7 views
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Mama River cherry blossoms in Ichikawa, Chiba.7 views
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The mound has these alphabetized markers to indicate where the shells are. They form a horseshoe shape (or U shape) on the mound.7 views
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From Kita-Kokubun Station, we walked about 600 meters along this highway until we reached the first green belt.6 viewsLocal environmental groups have been active in trying to preserve and protect the city's nature, but it's an uphill struggle with the encroaching urban development, especially when the Hokuso train line was built through Ichikawa in 1979.
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Horinouchi Kaizuka Park is a flat hill where shells, animal bones, and other food waste were discarded by Jomon people 4,000 years ago. "Kaizuka" means "shell mound." 堀之内貝塚公園6 viewsThis hill was also the site of a Jomon Period human settlement 2,500 to 4,000 years ago. A number of excavations were made since 1904 and ancient human remains, pottery, etc., have been found. National Historic Site.
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Hardened shell rocks from the ocean 150,000 years ago displayed in Horinouchi Kaizuka Park. These are not shells discarded by humans. 堀之内貝塚公園6 views
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It's hard to discern, but Horinouchi Kaizuka Shell Mound is as long as 225 meters and 100 meters wide. 6 viewsPink portion in the diagram on the upper left shows where the shells, animal bones (mostly boar and deer) and other food waste were tossed on the hillsides during 4,000 to 2,500 years ago (Jomon Period). They form a horseshoe shape on the hill.
The mound was a central feature of the Jomon Period cluster of homes in this area. Since the late 19th century (Meiji Period), many digs and research on this shell mound have been conducted by archaeologists. However, there are still unknown things about mound.
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JR Ichikawa Station is the first station in Chiba on the JR Sobu Line.6 views
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The 45th floor of The Towers West building is named "I-Link Town Observatory." It's a panoramic lookout deck on all four sides of the building. Free admission. This is open-air. If it's raining, there's also an indoor lookout deck6 views
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Good number of seats inside Yamazaki Plaza Ichikawa, the coffee shop and bakery operated by Yamazaki Baking.6 views
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Going down the steps from Guhoji Temple. In the distance, The Towers West skyscraper is visible. The road ahead goes all the way to JR Ichikawa Station.6 views
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For the most part, the trail has signage in both Japanese and English. We soon got to some greenery called Horinouchi Ryokuchi green belt. There's this fork in the trail. Go left to see the shell mound in Horinouchi Kaizuka Park.5 views
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Horinouchi Ryokuchi green belt. 堀之内緑地5 views
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Follow the sign to Konodai Ryokuchi green belt.5 views
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Follow the sign.5 views
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Rules for using Junsai-ike Ryokuchi Park. No bicycle riding, dogs must be leashed, etc.5 views
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Junsai-ike Ryokuchi green belt park じゅん菜池緑地5 views
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At the top of this small hill is Ichikawa city's highest point (elevation).5 views
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Poetry Monument for So Sakon's poem. 宗 左近5 views
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Edogawa River and Tokyo Skytree as seen from Satomi Park.5 views
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Satomi Park playground.5 views
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Edogawa River5 views
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Old drawing of Ichikawa Sekisho. It was operated in together with staff on the opposite side (Koiwa) of the river until it was abolished in 1869. The opposite side of the river (Koiwa) also has a signboard marking the sekisho location. 市川関所跡5 views
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Near the Ichikawa Sekisho Checkpoint is a Yamazaki Baking (山崎製パン) research and training facility ("Creation Center"). Yamazaki is the world's second largest bread-baking company. Founded in Ichikawa, Chiba in 1948.5 views
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JR Ichikawa Station on the JR Sobu Line. The skyscraper is The Towers East.5 views
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Map in front of JR Ichikawa Station showing another hiking route.5 views
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In spring, Guhoji's 400-year-old weeping cherry blossom tree is famous. 伏姫桜5 views
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The weeping cherry tree looks different from different angles.5 views
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"Temple" marks the location of Guhoji Temple on the wooded hill.5 views
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Small athletics field.5 views
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Horinouchi Ryokuchi green belt. 堀之内緑地4 views
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The other museum in the park is the Ichikawa Archaeology Museum displaying shell mound remains as old as 3,000 years (Jomon Period). Pottery & human remains found here are also exhibited. Good to have this museum next to the shell mound. 市川考古4 views
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Walking through Horinouchi Kaizuka Shell Mound, larger than what meets the eye. The shell mound's immediate area was the ocean shallows where it was easy to harvest shellfish.4 views
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Kozuka-yama Park was still under construction. 小塚山公園4 views
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Sawara Park, we walked through here.4 views
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Signage for the hiking trail.4 views
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Junsai-ike Pond じゅん菜池4 views
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じゅん菜池4 views
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Cherry blossoms along Junsai-ike Pond.4 views
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Some cherry blossoms along Junsai-ike Pond. じゅん菜池4 views
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Small bridge in the middle of Junsai-ike Pond.4 views
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Cherry blossoms along Junsai-ike Pond. じゅん菜池4 views
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Map and where we are now.4 views
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The trail passes by a few temples like Ekoin Betsuin Temple. This is the temple gate. 回向別院4 views
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Lush trees and shrubs in Konodai Ryokuchi Park. 国府台緑地4 views
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Satomi Park is the site of Konodai Castle occupied by the Satomi Clan who ruled the Boso domain in present-day Chiba during the 16th century. Almost nothing remains though. 国府台城4 views
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Places to sit in the park.4 views
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The Akedo Kofun burial mound stone coffins date from the 6th century. They were discovered in 1479. The dirt mound over the coffins fell away to expose the coffins which contained samurai armor, swords, etc. 明戸古墳石棺4 views
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About the Akedo Kofun burial mound. The diagram shows a keyhole-shaped burial mound. The stone coffins are on the top of the round hill. This burial mound has been a noted site since the Edo Period. 明戸古墳石棺4 views
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Cherry blossoms in Satomi Park. 4 views
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Poetry Monument for So Sakon's Ichikawa poem. He was a longtime resident and honorary citizen of Ichikawa . 宗 左近4 views
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Castle-like stone foundation.4 views
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Satomi Park water fountain. 4 views
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Nice cherry blossoms at Satomi Park, Ichikawa.4 views
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Shien-soja (紫烟草舎).4 views
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This is part of the riverside walking path. On the left is a forest on a hill. The forest is also being protected.4 views
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江戸川沿い4 views
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Edogawa River4 views
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Bicycle art on Edogawa River.4 views
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Edogawa River4 views
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Route 14 bridge over Edogawa River. Bridges were not built over Edogawa River until after the Edo Period ended. Until then, shuttle boats were used to shuttle travelers across the river.4 views
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Ichikawa Tourist Information office next to Ichikawa Station. It was closed.4 views
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Looking west toward Edogawa River. On clear days, Mt. Fuji can also be seen.4 views
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Looking west toward Edogawa River. The JR Sobu Line can be seen.4 views
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Looking east toward Chiba. The JR Sobu Line tracks can be seen on the left going to Moto-Yawata Station.4 views
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"Mamasan" is the temple's mountain name. Not the same as a mama-san operating a Japanese bar. Photo shows Mama no Tsughihashi Bridge leading to the steps going up to Guhoji Temple on a wooded hill. 真間の継橋4 views
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Guhoji is a Nichiren Buddhist temple founded by Priest Gyoki in 737. It's on a small hill noted for cherry blossoms and autumn foliage.4 viewsPriest Kobo Daishi (Kukai) later reconstructed and expanded the temple in 822. Tokugawa Ieyasu, before he became shogun, granted the temple ownership of its temple grounds in 1591. In 1695, Mito Komon named the temple's tea ceremony room "Henrantei" (遍覧亭). In 1888, the entire temple was destroyed by fire. The present structures were reconstructed in 1890.
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Guhoji's 400-year-old weeping cherry blossom tree is named "Fushihime Sakura." 伏姫桜4 views
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Another weeping cherry tree next to Fushihime Sakura.4 views
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View of Ichikawa Station area from Guhoji. The two skyscrapers are The Towers East on the left and The Towers West on the right. The higher Towers West building has a lookout deck on the 45th floor.4 views
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Western-style buildings along Mama River. The Christian church on the right is the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ichikawa and a National Tangible Cultural Property. 日本福音ルーテル市川教会【国登録有形文化財】4 views
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While walking through Horinouchi Kaizuka Shell Mound, we indeed saw many pieces of shell or pottery on the ground.3 views
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While walking through Horinouchi Kaizuka Shell Mound, many pieces of shell or pottery on the ground. Still here, after thousands of years!3 viewsRead more about this shell mound here: https://ichikawashi.jp/horinouchi/index_en.html
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Next was Kozuka-yama Park. There are restrooms. 小塚山公園3 views
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If you started the hike at Kita-Kokubun Station, Junsai-ike Pond Ryokuchi green belt park is the first substantial park where you can rest or have lunch. Large pond and cherry blossoms. じゅん菜池緑地3 views
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Junsai-ike Pond じゅん菜池3 views
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Cherry blossoms along Junsai-ike Pond in late March. じゅん菜池3 views
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Plum blossom trees near Junsai-ike Pond. 3 views
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Ekoin Betsuin Temple's main hall rebuilt in 2009. There's actually a cafe (Cafe Terrace Ekoin) on the 2nd floor. It belongs to the Jodo-shu Buddhist sect and is a branch of Ekoin Temple in Ryogoku, Tokyo. 回向院市川別院源光寺3 views
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Follow the trail to Satomi Park next.3 views
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Konodai Tenmangu Shrine dedicated to Michizane, scholar deity. Stone lanterns behind the torii date from 1863. 国府台天満宮3 views
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Ceiling and bell.3 views
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Inside Konodai Tenmangu Shrine. 国府台天満宮3 views
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About Konodai Tenmangu Shrine and an event called Tsujikiri.3 views
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View of Edogawa River from Satomi Park. Across the river is Koiwa and Shibamata. Tokyo Skytree can also be seen. 江戸川3 views
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Cherry blossoms in Satomi Park. 3 views
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Edogawa River.3 views
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